The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-02

auNeuJ II LHe scene Oh lIelr lnlSueeuSt yet
that they have some means of conveyance
seems certain, from the suddenness of their
arrived and departure. A general panic per-
vades the whole country, and no one can feel
certain that they will not be the next suffer
ers."
| dropped the paper with an uneasy sensa.
ton which | stroye in vain to Danish. Had
there not been a strange pedder at the back
door only yesterday afternoon, and had not
cook sharply scolded little Sally because she
would hnger over his wares, and laugh and
chatter? Nonsense; | was actually getting
nervous; no doubt it was only a newspaper
story colored by the rural imagination. AT
all events | would warn Rowles to keep a
rather stricter eye on bolts and bars for the
next few nights. The clock struck.
Halfpast twelve, and not servant yet re-
turned Itwas outrageous With a warmth
that banished all other feelings l rose, and
made my way. once more to the corridor win
dow to see if there were but the faintest sign
of their coming along the moonlighted mea-
dow path. Not one. Not a sound was heard
but the soft splash of the water over the weir;
not living creature stirred or spoke as was
visible in the hush of the summer midnight.
Suddenly, as still gazed out, swift shadow
fitted across the open space between the
second bridge and the third. Another,
another, and still another. What could it
possibly be? The servants could not by any
human means return that way from the Grange
besides, there was not the ghost of sound.
/ waited breathless, and the next second saw
the same noiseless shadows pass the next
moonlit patch and disappear below the short
hill Five | counted-then vacancy once
more. With a sudden rush / comprehended
the truth-they were tricyclists mounted on
their machines. Who on earth could they be?
had one wild thought of Charley, and even
as thought the five silent shadows rose above
the level of the hill, and passed like wraiths
under the very spot where | stood. The
moonlight struck full for single instant on
each as it passed. There were five men, each
riding noiseless tricycle., and each mans
features were ridden from my straining view
by a band of inky Grape. Silently, one by
one, each shadow fitted into the blackness of
the pine trees shade; there was an instant's
pause, then five dusky forms slipped from
that deep darkness to the lighter shade of the
garden wall.
| don't think Pm q coward-I hope not, but
for one single moment my knees seemed to
give way under me, and the moonlit scene to
fade before my eyes; and | caught at the wall
where | was standing to steady myself from
falling, as those FIVE terrible figures stole round
the corner of the walled garden and vanished
in the pathway that led to the rear of the
house where |, defenceless and alone, was
left deserted by every human soul, to cope
with power desperate, appalling, and utter
ly irresistible.
| said for single moment my knees gave
way under me. I'm glad it was only n mo-
ment. In the next second the spirit of Black
Gervase rose up within me like the battle
horse at the sound ofthe bugle. All the blood
that had forsaken my cheeks and lips came
back with q rush that made them tingle, and
| threw up my head and clenched my hands
as | resolved between my set teeth that, weak
girl as | was, these midnight thieves and
murderers should find that | was not prepared
to die without struggle.
Resistance was of course utterly futile.
Common sense told me that only complete
knowledge of the domestic politics of Copford
Manor house had guided the selection of this
particular night and hour, which had been
considered with hneness of discrimination
which reflected a good deal of credit on
the robber band, if only | had been cool
enough to do them justice. The ringing of
bells, therefore, raising a would be alarm,
and all the other innocent expedients to fright
the burglar from his prey, would in this case
be Just so much worse than useless that they
could by no human possibility be heard by
any one but the invaders, who were as well
aware, probably, of that fact as | was myself,
and would only vent upon me when they
found me the natural resentment reasonably
excited by mi interference with existing affairs.
Nothing was left, therefore, but the less
dignifed weapon of flight. Not that for a
moment contemplated leaving the marauders
to the peaceful enjoyment Of my ancestral
plate and Jewels. Nothing was further from
my thoughts than any such hospitality. Bu-
| did most earnestly desire to rush off for QUIT
side help and capture them red-handed, and
even as the vindictive desire flashed into my
mind had formed my plans,
In an instant my shoes were offmy feet and
in my hand, and | was creeping, noiseless as
a mouse, down the dim eerie corridor. Be-
fore | had gone three steps | glided
back again as swiftly. | had remembered the
strong room, and its door left open with a
pathetic confidence, and meant to leave no
Tightening of my visitors tolls within their
grasp that night,
Down the back staircase was the way to the
strong room. Oh, Elizabethan architect
what demon possessed you to locate that
chamber of peril so close to the door which
is proverbially burglar favorite? Oh, black
oak stairs trod by how many befrilled foot
man and fantastic page of bygone years, if one
ereak of your ancient boards betray me now,
it were good for the last descendant of the
house of Blessington if the oaks that formed
you had never grown within the precincts of
Copford Park.
Bless thee, builder of bygone ages! If the
back stairs of Copford Manor House had been
put in by the contractor who rears the modern
villa of the nineteenth century, | should not
now be writing, with infinite calmness and
propriety, this true history of that eventtul
midnight of the 20th of June.
Yet own there was one moment when my
heart seemed to thrill within me, and it needed
every drop of Black Gervases blood within
my veins to keep me from quailing when l
had to pass the back door, with its heavy
hinges and iron nails, and caught the fash of
light from the keen point of a sharp, cruel
blade of steel that was silently and stealthily
saving its leisurely way through the black
panel Just above the lock whose key l had
turned with such judicial solemnity some half
an hour or so before.
! had hardly dared to think my slender
strength could move that massive strong room
door. 1t looked task for two stout men, but
was half intoxicated with excitement, and l
meant to try. One effort, into which threw
the concentrated energy Of a force which sur
prised even myself and the iron door swung
on its hinges, and snapped to with an almost
inaudible click, which told me it was prepared
to resist whole armory of erowbars and
'.jimmies.n / think at that moment hardly
cared whether my life paid the forfeit of my
daring aot, was so triumphant at having out
witted those clever robbers.
It was to tho little postern door in the back
kitchen that instinctively made my way. 1t
was while was undoing the fastening of that
arched portal that was surprised to find my
fingers trembling as they closed upon the bolts.
l think must have been very ferocious with
myself for that discovery, for they did not
show any signs of weakness again till good
deal later on that eyentfal night.
Out in the shrubbery, where the thick
branches scratched my face, and ! had to
gather my skirts about me lest the leaves
should rustic and betray me in the stilless of
that summer night. Now in the open, before
the house, keeping on the turf border to avoid
the gravel path, and paused for moment
to consider what was the next thing must do.
The field path stretched before me, shelter
less and open, all across the bright meadow.
Not a window on this side of the house but
could command it for quarter of mile away
no chance of flying figure there being un-
detected and unpursued. Down at the
stables, under the shadow of the hill, groom
or a stable boy might have been left at home
from the reveis at Copford Grange, ! must
creep past the garden, and down by the glen,